Methods used to Study the Topic

This investigation on ISIS

This investigation on ISIS has been conducted using a descriptive research methodology. It is thought of as a method of gathering personal data. Pure theory and a media-based history of terrorism served as the foundation for the researcher's choice of occurrence. The identification and measurement of some characteristics of a population or phenomenon under investigation is known as descriptive form of research. (Kothari, 2004). The researcher has noted the traits of different terrorist groups, including Boko Haram, Al-Shabaab, and ISIS, in this regard. The researcher has also described the traits of these terrorist organizations, including their recruitment practices, sources of financing, and methods of communication, their operation process, and radicalization in the countries providing refuge to the militia.

Descriptive study method

Descriptive study method also entails systematic collection and presentation of data to give a clear picture of a particular situation ("Research Methodology," 2005). The researcher using the list of tables has demonstrated this presentation. These tables include a figure showing recent deadliest single-day terrorist attacks in the United States and ISIL number of soldiers by country estimates in form of a table. Also, the researcher has used a chart named 'Growth of Pro-ISIS Twitter Accounts' to show the increasing number of Twitter accounts related to these terrorist group. Also, this method of study regarding this terrorist organization is characterized as being fact-finding. The descriptive method has allowed the researcher to gather facts that try to give a clear understanding concerning how ISIS solicits funds to run its operations, manage to radicalize people in the Western countries, and how it spreads its propaganda through social sites. The understanding is provided by the principal facts that underline the reasons why people choose to join these groups. The researcher has also described the technical review stating various theories and establishing the relationships existing between these theories and the terrorist group. It is also evident that, in this study method, the researcher is involved in exposit study, that is, what has happened or is happening. Regarding the facts collected, the researcher has been involved in identifying various aspects of ISIS operations as well as relating the reasons regarding why people may choose to join them by using theoretical facts. Through this method, therefore, the researcher studies the events that have already taken place.

Descriptive method is based

Descriptive method is based on carrying out extensive information gathering from the existing literature review, unlike sourcing facts from real life encounters. The researcher has managed to carry out the study on critical issues and fact files related to ISIS. These critical issues have been identified by the researcher by using sources such as books written by other authors and journals providing information based on the study. These sources are identified as secondary and primary materials respectively with most of the information scooped from secondary sources such as mainstream media. The researcher has used information from these secondary sources, analyzed it, and deduced the most appropriate definitions for the terrorist group, identified how the propaganda is used and its impact on the people, and pin pointed the theories that describe relations between the paradigms and ISIS propaganda. In general, the descriptive method used in this study has analyzed who, what, when and where regarding the various aspects of ISIS operations.

Methodological difficulties encountered

Methodological difficulties encountered in studying this topic

In every research, several difficulties may be realized when carrying out a research based on the chosen methodology. The researcher has employed descriptive methods in executing out this study. In real situations, during undertakings regarding terrorism and terrorist groups such as ISIS, the researcher contends with a handful of problems when trying to investigate these issues and any other related to the topic. These issues include moral, methodological, and conceptual issues (Kothari, 2004). At methodological issues point of view, the main problem is; this type of research demands highly for primary data. The type of data can only be obtained if the researcher either gets involved with the group and learns facts about it or acquires access to government classified information regarding terrorism. Notably, both of these methods pose great difficulty for the researcher towards gaining access to such information. The underlying reason behind experiencing this difficulty is because the intelligence officers have access to this primary information regarding the non-existence of cooperation among researchers. This lack of cooperation has been identified as the primary concern relating the stagnating research on terrorism issues. The intelligence officers primarily have the primary data that can be converted into meaningful information, and be helpful in many ways to the government. However, they do not have the analytical capacity. The researchers, on the other hand, have the analytical tools and the expertise required in the analysis of such data but cannot work with no relevant information at their disposal. The option of obtaining primary data from the terrorists' groups themselves, is by itself a dangerous endeavor and may be regarded as illegal to some extent (Milosevic & Rekawek, 2014).

Another difficulty that emanates when researching terrorism is the data collection or information gathering procedures. The researcher will use secondary data in conducting studies regarding various aspects that relate to ISIS terrorist group. These sources may include journals, books, and media websites. The researcher is forced to review voluminous sources to compare the information from different sources and establish a collective agreement that sparks from many of the sources. This procedure poses some difficulties to the researcher because secondary data obtained is more often known to contain errors resulting from contextual and practical errors. Other problems include the probability that these sources may have been analyzed in a different perspective from the original intended purpose due to the analyst having no idea concerning which context the research had been conducted. For the researcher to use the collected data on terrorism topic, the individuals have to reflect on the social context in which the data is set. As a result, the researcher understands when the data was collected, the criteria used and the availability of other data regarding the same contest for comparison and determination of consistency (Milosevic & Rekawek, 2014). The volume of data set available in carrying out such type of research is significant and therefore requires literacy in mathematical operations data analysis which many of the researchers may not be entirely conversant.

Analysis of this Approach

Analysis of this Approach

Regardless of the research methodology used, every approach has its strengths and limitations. The literature materials and works from other sources are employed efficiently depending on the practical and theoretical approach of the researcher. Below is an outline of strengths and limitations of using descriptive research method.

Strengths

Strengths

In descriptive research approach, a significant amount of data-rich in information is collected and therefore, the sources are available, for instance, when the researcher is carrying out a study on how ISIS terrorist group spreads its propaganda. In respect to this topic of study, there are volumes of significant data that have been compiled by different researchers who have carried the same study basing on different perspectives. The data can, therefore, be analyzed and provide the researcher with an opportunity to conclude the research based on fact-finding. During information gathering when using this approach, data can be collected either qualitatively or quantitatively and in an in-depth style (Flick, 2015). Moreover, the researcher can carry out valuable research without having contact with the recipient. For instance, in the study of ISIS terrorist group, the researcher studied various sources such as YouTube videos, tweets and other social media sites where there is information regarding ISIS operations and much more information.

Limitations

Limitations

It is however evident that this research approach is also faced with several weaknesses and limitations. The approach is not suitable when studying cause and effect relationship because the variables in the research cannot be compared (Kothari, 2004; Mackey & Gass, 2015). Also, the theoretical analysis of possible relationships regarding the relationships of such theories to ISIS is not conclusive. It is also a limitation that descriptive research fails to use scientific method in analysis because its variables cannot be manipulated. Finally, the research cannot be replicated basing on the results obtained (Mackey & Gass, 2015).

References

Flick, U. (2015). Introducing Research Methodology: A Beginner’s Guide to Doing a Research Project. SAGE.

Kothari, C. R. (2004). Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques. New Age International.

Mackey, A., & Gass, S. M. (2015). Second Language Research: Methodology and Design. Routledge.

Milosevic, M., & Rekawek, K. (2014). Perseverance of Terrorism: Focus on Leaders. IOS Press.

Research Methodology. (2005). In New Product Development (pp. 43–50). Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-23273-7_3